Skin Care Tips by Sarah

For ongoing acne skin care and prevention of acne.

• Clean skin gently— Use a mild skin cleanser twice a day, and pat skin dry. Harsh cleansers and astringents can actually worsen acne.

• Do not pop, squeeze, or pick at acne lesions, as this can promote inflammation and infection. Keep hands away from your face and other acne-prone parts of the skin.

• Limit sun exposure— Tanning only masks acne at best. At worst, sun exposure can lead to skin damage, especially if you are using an acne treatment that makes your skin more sensitive to sunlight and UV rays (this includes tanning booths).

• Choose cosmetics with care— Choose non-greasy skin products, and look for words like “non-comedogenic,” “oil-free,” and “water-based.” Some facial products contain active acne-fighting ingredients, such as benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid, to help keep mild acne at bay.

• Be patient with your treatment—

Topical retinoids (Differin, Epiduo, Retin A Micro, Tazorac, or tretinoin) help unclog sebaceous glands and keep skin pores open.

Antibiotics, such as doxycycline and minocycline (Solodyn), may be used to fight the Propionibacterium acnes bacteria.

Isotretinoin (Accutane) or hormonal agents, such as birth control pills, may be used to reduce sebum (oil) production.

Find out how much time it should take for your acne treatment to work (generally 6-8 weeks) and then stick with it. Stopping treatment early may prevent you from seeing good results or even cause a relapse of symptoms. Your skin may look worse before it begins to improve. You may need to try more than one type of treatment.

Acne lesions can come and go. These factors can cause acne to flare:

•Changing hormone levels in women 2 to 7 days before their menstrual period, during pregnancy, or when starting or stopping birth control pills

•Oil from skin products (moisturizers or cosmetics) or grease in the workplace (for example, a kitchen with fry vats)

•Pressure from sports helmets or equipment, backpacks, tight collars, or tight uniforms

•Environmental irritants, such as pollution and high humidity

•Squeezing or picking at blemishes

•Hard scrubbing of the skin

Of course, the primary objective in treating dry skin is to first minimize discomfort. Dry winter skin is best treated with a moisturizer that is rich in humectants. Formulations of this type tend to be heavier and are often marketed as “night moisturizers”. Regardless of the label, dry skin will benefit from their use throughout the day. It’s essential to reapply moisturizer every few hours when fighting dry skin. An alternative option is to supplement your morning and evening skin care routine with repeated use of a spray toner rich in humectants throughout the day.

Although exfoliation is a necessary skin care step year-round, it’s especially vital for those with dry skin. Using an effective exfoliant will encourage the proper shedding of dead skin cells. Not only will this result in skin that looks better, but it will also improve the skin’s overall health.

A number of age-old recommendations still hold a good deal of value.

• Take fewer and/or shorter showers and baths, and reduce water temperatures. This is an essential step for those with dry skin, but should be followed by those with healthy skin, as well.
• Avoid the use of harsh soaps and detergents, as well as the frequent use of hand sanitizers. These ingredients remove the skin’s acid mantle. Instead, alcohol-free hand sanitizer and glycerin soap are recommended.
• Use a cool-mist humidifier in the home and office to maintain proper humidity levels.

This will help skin maintain hydration.